First Black British Victoria's Secret Angel Has To Redo Her Own Hair And Makeup Because Professionals Don't Know How To Work With Her Skin Tone
She begged fashion houses to make more effort in hiring stylists suited to working with Black people.
Leomie Anderson has been modeling since she was scouted in London at 14, and by 17 she was already walking for Marc Jacobs.
But even after becoming Victoria's Secret's first Black British angel, she says the industry still makes her work around her skin tone. In October 2021, she showed on TikTok how her hair and makeup team was not prepared for her look, and she ended up fixing her own face before New York Fashion Week.
What happened next struck a nerve far beyond one runway. Read on.
Beautiful Leomie Anderson has been modeling since she was first scouted in London at 14.
TikTok/ leomieandersonBy the time she was 17, she was walking the runway for Marc Jacobs.
TikTok/ leomieandersonHowever, despite all of her success, Leomie says that her job is still significantly affected by her skin color.
TikTok/ leomieanderson
In October 2021, Leomie shared a video on her TikTok demonstrating how her hair and makeup artists were entirely unprepared to work with her hair type and skin tone.
TikTok/ leomieanderson
"I look like I work in the mines."
TikTok/ leomieanderson
Leomie explained that first, a makeup artist applied the wrong color foundation. Then another artist attempted to fix it but failed.
TikTok/ leomieanderson
Leomie's hair was also handled roughly, and it took three stylists just to get it dry and styled.
TikTok/ leomieanderson
"I was told to wash my hair; no one dried it until the last minute."
TikTok/ leomieanderson
That is where the runway prep really fell apart.
The stunning model said she felt "ugly AF," so she redid her own makeup in 10 minutes before walking out on stage.
TikTok/ leomieanderson
Leomie says the experience left her feeling disheartened.
TikTok/ leomieanderson
She begged fashion houses to make more effort in hiring stylists suited to working with Black people.
TikTok/ leomieanderson
And it’s a similar kind of restriction to Danielle Fishel not being allowed to show her arms in Boy Meets World.
And Leomie isn't alone in her experience.
TikTok/ leomieanderson
Women of color everywhere started replying to Leomie's posts with their personal stories.
Twitter / xjasminem
"It's giving hate crime."
Twitter / jadasimonew
People were quick to share their own frustrations.
"Brows were horrible."
Twitter / Nesha_iam
"I've only felt pretty on set a couple of times."
Twitter / KennedyZimet
"I felt so ugly and hideous."
Twitter / Thelifeofkeni
Here's how people reacted.
TikTok / tescobillieeilish
"This is the BS that makes a lot of us quit."
TikTok / ulackserotonin
"I just don't get it."
TikTok / beckilouise_c
"Tragic."
TikTok / alfredo_assassin
"The problem is beauty schools."
Twitter / mandxloriangrl
"It amazes me."
TikTok / michelleomamasamilf
"People are different."
Haylee Plukpluk
"Shouldn't you be trained to style all types of hair and skin tones?"
Chelsea Murphy
"They should pay her what a makeup artist and hair stylist would earn."
Kira Robertson
"This should not be happening."
Prachi Nadkarni
Sadly, Leomie's story is far from out of the ordinary. During Paris Fashion Week in 2017, model Londone Myers shared a similar experience, and model Ashley Chew even created the hashtag #BlackModelsMatter.
However, on a more positive note, it was reported that New York Fashion Week Spring 2022 was one of the most diverse seasons ever. In fact, 55.5% of the models involved were of color. Here's hoping that things will only improve from here!
Leomie’s “I look like I work in the mines” moment hits harder after you see the Oscars 2026 red carpet fails that stole the spotlight.
